Diverge

(Willie Mullins)

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Tuesday

Considering he had plenty of work to do from off the pace, Diverge posted a particularly smart performance to finish third behind Marine Nationale and Facile Vega in the opening contest of the week. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was having just his third start over hurdles and showed plenty of improvement from his easy maiden hurdle win at Punchestown in January. Sporting a first-time tongue-tie, the Frankel gelding was beaten just six lengths and could be an interesting candidate if connections opted to have a crack at the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. That track and an extended two miles could suit him extremely well. Owner Chris Jones has a nice prospect on his hands. (MB)

Inthepocket

(Henry de Bromhead)

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Tuesday

Just a neck separated Diverge and Inthepocket in the Festival curtain-raiser, and the latter is another promising sort for the future – particularly as a novice chaser for Henry de Bromhead. The J.P. McManus-owned six-year-old had been earmarked for a tilt at the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle before a late switch to the Supreme in the days before declarations, and he shaped as though he possibly lacked a gear in order to quicken up from mid-division over this trip. Having said that, the Ballymore can often place greater emphasis on speed than the Supreme. Inthepocket, by Blue Bresil, is developing quite a smart profile and he could be an ideal type for next year’s Turners Novices’ Chase (currently 20/1). (MB)

Echoes In Rain

(Willie Mullins)

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, Tuesday

If ever there was a race designed to disadvantage Echoes In Rain, it was last week’s Mares’ Hurdle - a slowly run, tactical affair over two and a half miles. She had to be held up but naturally wanted to run faster, so expended her usual fair deal of energy but still managed to finish fourth. This is a very talented mare who will surely benefit from a return to two miles, where her keenness will be negated somewhat by a generally faster pace. She would be interesting taking on State Man in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle. (RG)

Risk Belle

(Willie Mullins)

Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Tuesday

Somehow, the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle continues to elude Willie Mullins after Risk Belle was collared late on after trading close to 1/10 in the in-running markets. It was quite the effort from the J.P. McManus-owned four-year-old to make headway from off the pace and take up the running after the last, but she had to work hard to get to the lead in tight spaces and was ultimately run out of it by well-handicapped juveniles Jazzy Matty and Byker. There was definite encouragement in how this No Risk At All filly bounced back from a fall at the Dublin Racing Festival on her previous start. She should be up to winning a valuable handicap hurdle on this evidence, even with a 4lb nudge from the Irish handicapper to a mark of 127. (MB)

Chemical Energy

(Gordon Elliott)

National Hunt Chase, Tuesday

Gun to head, it seemed that Chemical Energy was struggling to get to Mahler Mission before that runner fell at the second last, but we’ll never know for sure. What we do know is that he beat John McConnell’s runner by 61 lengths when he met him on good ground at Cheltenham right at the beginning of the season. The soft ground last week was a negative for him, but he still ran a fine race and appeals as one who could go well in the Irish Grand National. (RG)

Scaramanga

(Willie Mullins)

Coral Cup, Wednesday

Scaramanga was a big eyecatcher when finishing fourth in the Coral Cup, racing wide for much of the journey but still bang in contention turning for home only to find three handicap blots too strong. This was his first run in 129 days and he was sent off 50/1, suggesting there wasn’t much confidence in him but he put up arguably a career-best run over hurdles. He will have options back on the flat in the coming months but he very much appeals over hurdles, given this was his first run over timber since joining Willie Mullins. (RG)

Lecky Watson

(Willie Mullins)

Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Wednesday

Ireland’s 16-time champion trainer fired 10 bullets without success in the Champion Bumper, and it was actually Lecky Watson – the biggest-priced Closutton runner in the field at 80/1 – who delivered one of the stable’s most promising displays here. He raced a little closer to the pace than the first and second home, A Dream To Share and Fact To File, and wasn’t able to quicken up to the same extent as those rivals in the straight.

However, the five-year-old by Valirann, representing the Slaneyville Syndicate, was done no favours by being squeezed up badly in the closing stages and still managed to run on well at the line to recover fourth. It was a superb showing in the circumstances.

Lecky Watson has now officially finished second in three of his four bumper starts (demoted from first due to interference at Punchestown last November) and it’s difficult to know whether he will definitely prove Grade 1 class next term over hurdles. He’s entitled to pursue that route, though, and would be fascinating in a handicap like the Martin Pipe if that doesn’t work out and connections manage to get four hurdles runs into him before next year’s meeting. (MB)

Halka Du Tabert

(Gordon Elliott)

Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, Thursday

A fine front-running ride from Gavin Sheehan on the battle-hardened You Wear It Well meant the Jamie Snowden-trained six-year-old wasn’t for catching in the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, but Halka Du Tabert may well turn out to be the best long-term prospect to emerge from the Grade 2. A point-to-point winner who had yet to even run in a bumper before November, the Gordon Elliott-trained mare has made big strides in a short space of time and still looks as though there is improvement in her when gaining more experience. She had a decent enough position just behind the leading bunch but probably didn’t fully utilise it, as she was ridden with plenty of patience and the bird had flown in front by the time she hit top gear. She should have a bright future for Kenny Alexander. (MB)

Mr Incredible

(Willie Mullins)

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, Thursday

Mr Incredible is a tricky but clearly talented horse and showed that again in the Kim Muir. Held up by Patrick Mullins, he came with what looked to be a dangerous run in the straight, only to plough through the last and then hang badly on the run-in. Nonetheless, this was a second strong effort in a good staying handicap chase, given he had finished second to Iwilldoit in the Classic Chase at Warwick previously. He is one to note for the Irish Grand National now. (RG)

Sharjah

(Willie Mullins)

McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle, Friday

The admirable Sharjah showed he has plenty more to offer at the age of 10 with a fine run to finish a close fourth in the County Hurdle off a mark of 155. Held up off the pace, he made ground smoothly for Patrick Mullins and would have finished a bit closer were it not for a couple of instances of traffic problems. He may not have the tactical speed to be as effective as he once was in Grade 1s but a big-field, strongly-run handicap like this really suits him. He hasn’t been handed an entry for the Grade A RYBO Handicap Hurdle over two miles at Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival, but there could be a similarly suitable option for him at the Punchestown Festival. (RG)